The pedagogical implications of the commercialization of children's playgrounds in urban environments

This paper starts from the premise that play spaces (playgrounds and playrooms) specially designed for children are shaped by social and cultural factors, reflecting society's attitudes to childhood and a particular perception of the child, and that moreover, these spaces in themselves, with their physical, symbolic, social and discursive dimensions, help shape the conditions and characteristics of children's growing up, their identities and participation in the community. In the context of contemporary urban environments, the design of children's play spaces is largely influenced by economic, commercial, urban planning and architectural considerations, resulting in children growing up within a culture that can be defined as contemporary, urban, market-mediated culture. Drawing on postmodern theories - the socio-cultural theory of learning and development, new theories of childhood, and poststructuralism - we offer a critical examination of the pedagogical implications of the commercialization of children's playgrounds in urban environments.